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Beastie Respond Jumps The Q

“… I never set out to achieve something particular. I was listening to lots of electronic music when I first started writing my own, and for completely selfish reasons I wanted to create something that I enjoy myself. Something I felt was missing. I still feel like that. That and the acknowledgement I get for my work is what keeps me going. Career-wise I take it as it comes. I don’t want to change anything in my music to put myself in a better financial situation … ” – Beastie Respond reflecting on the beginning of his musical career

Beastie Respond

The next guest featuring in the blog’s Jump The Q series, sharing some interesting and funny personal trivia, is Danish producer Tobias Pedersen aka Beastie Respond. After taking a short break from writing music, re-inventing his sound and developing his studio techniques, Tobias re-emerged recently ever so creative with the “Back To The Future EP“; a throwback to 80’s aesthetics and nostalgia, with a modern twist. Artist profile and biography, discography highlights, extensive review of his latest EP, as well as social media links are available in the section right after the Q&A.

Jump The Q

A mini-interview with 20 short questions (some personal, some tricky) looking for equally short answers, addressed to artists, producers, promoters, djs, friends and affiliates of the blog in general.

Set 1: The man behind the mask

Q1: Favourite travel destination?

At the moment, “Berlin”

Q2: Favourite dish?

Home-made “Ragú Alla Bolognese”

Q3: Favourite drink?

“Beer”

Q4: Favourite movie?

Don’t have one

Q5: Favourite book?

“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” by Hunter S. Thompson

Q6: Favourite song title?

“Bubble Butts And Equations” by Actress (Splazsh LP, 2010)

Set 2: The man behind the console

Q7: First record you bought?

“The Black Album” by Metallica

Q8: Most valuable record you own (sentimental value not financial)?

“Heavy Weather LP” by Weather Report (1977)

Q9: Favourite piece of musical equipment?

The only non-replaceable one I have: “my brain”

Q10: Favourite music track (non genre-specific)?

“A Remark You Made” by Weather Report

Q11: Favourite label?

Don’t have one

Q12: Favourite dj/artist/producer?

At the moment, “Arca”

Q13: Track you wish you had written?

“Last Christmas” by Wham. Imagine the royalties!

Q14: Analogue or digital?

I don’t rate one over the other. But I use mostly digital synths and plug-ins.

Set 3: The man behind the scenes

Q15: Favourite venue worldwide you have ever attended?

It’s hard to say. Space and time is highly connected in this matter and the magic I’ve felt at “Dunkel” (Copenhagen, Denmark) at certain times, haven’t been surpassed yet.

Q16: Best live performance/dj set you have ever witnessed?

Amnesia Scanner and Vincent de Belleval at “Volksbühne” (Berlin, Germany)

Weather Report, The Cure, early 90’s version of Ozzy Osbourne, Kendrick Lamar and Frank Ocean.

Q19: If you had a magic eraser who would you extinguish from the music map?

I would totally obliterate these morons:

Q20: Future plans?

Time travel

Artist Profile

Beastie Respond is the recording alias of Danish producer Tobias Pedersen. He made his discography debut in 2011 for the bass music label Teal Recordings. After two singles on Teal, he released his sophomore personal album entitled “Fictitious Nostalgia” in 2013. Effortlessly oscillating between genres and styles, from electro and techno to experimental 85/170 electronica and drum and bass, drawing from a wide palette of musical influences (from the cinematic likes of Brian Eno and John Carpenter to the dark melancholy of The Cure to the minimalism and genre-defiance of the Autonomic movement), his talents were readily picked up by forward-thinking labels like Exit, CX Digital and Demand for a string of fine guest appearances; the highlight being the track “One More Second”, which was selected for the second volume of the critically acclaimed “Mosaic” series, released by dBridge’s Exit.

Back To The Future poster

Beastie Respond spent the following couple of years re-inventing his sound and developing his studio techniques. The final result has been the follow-up to his inaugural album, recently released by the Danish Label Circle Vision. Aptly entitled “Back To the Future”, his new 7-track concept EP is a contemporary take on 80’s aesthetics, analogue synthesizers, flamboyancy and neon lights; a diverse canvas of nostalgia, audacity, aspects and aspirations. The blog’s review of the EP, artist biography and all things Beastie Respond are available here.